Ayers’ first sack set up a 3rd-and-16 at the Steelers’ 14 yard line in the second quarter, a play in which Roethlisberger threw an interception to Denver safety Quinton Carter. Roethlisberger was clearly affected by Ayers’ hit and showed a considerable limp on his injured ankle.

The second sack came on Pittsburgh’s final play of regulation. Facing a fourth down at the Denver 49 yard line, the Steelers’ were trying to attempt a Hail Mary. Instead, Ayers dropped Roethlisberger for a 15-yard loss to send the game to overtime.

Ayers finished Sunday’s game with three tackles as well as three quarterback hits — the most of any Bronco. He said it meant a lot to him to have his best game in the Broncos’ biggest game.

“It definitely does. I’ve taken a lot of scrutiny in the early part of my career. It isn’t my only motivating factor,” Ayers said. “I just want to keep getting better and keep winning, that’s really all I care about.

I believe he is about to go nuts. It appears that the game has, as they say, “slowed down” for him. Yea!

Jeffrey Freeman

Jason M Brown

Ayers is in a position where he can succeed. It’s easy to forget about him with Dumerville and Miller crowding the outside. Opposing lines have to choose who to double-team and here comes Ayers to crush the quarterback. I LOVE IT!

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.